9 Philadelphia Flyers

Observers at the Flyers' training camp in Peterborough, Ont.,were struck by the team's fitness. Right wing Mark Recchi wasfully recovered from the concussion he sustained last season,defenseman Chris Therien had shed 10 pounds, and, despite backtroubles that would hinder them during the preseason, JohnLeClair and Eric Lindros were skating with the team. From thegoal nets to the front office, the message seemed clear: If theFlyers don't shape up this season, owner Ed Snider could beshipping many of them--including Lindros and general manager BobClarke--out. "We all feel that this has to be our year," saysgoaltender John Vanbiesbrouck.

The Flyers also entered last season with a lot to prove, andthey quickly dispelled most concerns with an Eastern Conferencebest 28-10-11 start. Then Lindros's lung collapsed when he fellon his stick during an April 1 game, and the team buckledwithout him. Arguably more disheartened than disabled by theabsence of their captain, the Flyers scored only 13 goals intheir final seven regular-season games before being ousted fromthe playoffs in the first round by the Maple Leafs. The seriesended in Game 6 when Toronto scored a power-play goal in thelast minute after LeClair was called for elbowing, a penaltythat left Snider so incensed that he was fined $50,000 by theleague for his public outburst.

Despite an off-season marked by the lingering disappointmentover that early playoff exit, the retirement of onetimegoaltending star Ron Hextall and the death of rookie defensemanDmitri Tertyshny in a boating accident, Philadelphia's attitudeis positive. "This is the best team I've had since 1994," saysClarke, who re-signed standout defender Eric Desjardins, as wellas free-agent forwards Recchi, Keith Jones, Mikael Renberg andValeri Zelepukin. This older group will also be counted on tousher in a new generation of Flyers. The most promising youngprospects include defenseman Mark Eaton, a 1998 free-agentsignee from Notre Dame, and 19-year-old center Simon Gagne, afirst-round pick in '98 with superior skills. Last season the6-foot, 165-pound Gagne scored 120 points in the Quebec MajorJunior Hockey League.

Despite the new talent that waits in the wings, for this year,at least, the Flyers hope that experience takes them over the top.

FAST FACTThe Flyers topped the league with 2,967 face-off wins lastseason, led by Rod Brind'Amour's 1,001. Philly also led theleague in percentage of face-offs won (55.35).

INSIDER

CATEGORY SI RANKING SKINNY

OFFENSE 7 Recchi makes life easier for Lindros and LeClairDEFENSE 8 Solid core, enhanced by a good systemGOALTENDING 12 More consistency needed from VanbiesbrouckSPECIAL TEAMS 10 Desjardins has to step up as power-play quarterbackCOACHING 7 Neilson needs to motivate this talented group

Before he became the premier postseason performer of his generation, the Patriots icon was a middling college quarterback who invited skepticism, even scorn, from fans and his coaches. That was all—and that was everything